McNatt, Coffin interview for Tecumseh superintendent position

Thursday

Jan 31, 2013 at 11:00 AM

By David FrownfelderDaily Telegram Staff Writer

TECUMSEH — Sean McNatt and Kelly Coffin were next up as the Tecumseh Board of Education continued to interview candidates for super­intendent Wednesday. Six people are semifinalists to succeed Mike McAran as superintendent of Tecumseh Public Schools.

McNatt has been superintendent of Breckenridge Community Schools since 2008. A former Onsted and Tecumseh principal, Coffin is currently director of instructional services for the Lenawee Intermediate School District.

Both candidates’ resumes showed extensive education as well as lengthy classroom and administrative experience. McNatt holds a master of arts degree in educational leadership and Coffin holds a doctorate in educational leadership.

Collaboration and community involvement in the schools were again the main topics of questions from the board. McNatt, who also holds degrees in liberal arts and business administration, said communication and transparency are important parts of education.

“It is important to be out of my office and be sociable and visible to the staff,” he said.

McNatt said school improvement plans are usually focused on student achievement. But in light of today’s society, safety is becoming another important factor. Still, he said, education has to provide a sound basis for students to succeed.

“Curriculum is my passion. It’s what I enjoy doing,” he said.

With extensive experience as a teacher, McNatt first became a principal in 2002 at Arenac Eastern School, where he also served as curriculum director. After a year, he moved to Bronson as principal of the middle and high school. His building achieved Annual Yearly Progress all five years McNatt was principal.

Since coming to Breckenridge, located west of Saginaw, McNatt has led two successful bond issues and implemented a number of collaborative programs and services. The district, like many others in Michigan, has been hit with declining enrollment. However, all of the school district’s buildings achieved “A’s” on their state report cards.

“It would be my pleasure to live here,” McNatt said. “If you have to travel two hours to get to work, that is two hours you could have spent doing something productive.”

Coffin has lived in Tecumseh for 20 years and has two children still in the district. A third is a student at Western Michigan University.

“I believe the majority of my professional experience has led me to this moment in time,” she said. “This (would be) my last job. This isn’t a stepping stone.”

Coffin detailed her experience building collaboration and developing curriculums on a countywide level in her job with the LISD.

Collaboration and communication are important to a school district’s reputation and performance, she said.

“If people have trust in the process, even if they disagree with the decision, they will be invested,” Coffin said. “I see myself as the number one teacher and the number one leader of the district.”

Coffin began her education career as a core teacher at the Adrian Training School from 1992 to 1996. She taught special education and seventh-grade mathematics at Tecumseh Middle School for eight years before taking the job as principal at Onsted Middle School.

While in Onsted, Coffin served as interim superintendent in 2007 and oversaw district operations as well as developed the budget for the school year, which resulted in an increase to the fund equity. After two years as principal of the Onsted Elementary School, Coffin became director of instructional services and regional supervisor for special education with the LISD. Since July 2011, she has been assistant superintendent for special education and general services.

“I’ve worked with local boards to develop a curriculum support system. But it is also very important to talk about alignment and coherency,” Coffin said. “It doesn’t make much sense if teachers aren’t able to work with the plan in the classroom.”

Coffin said the relationships the superintendent builds with the teachers and the board are important parts of the job. She presented the board with a 90-day plan of action that she intends to implement if hired.

“It is extremely important to get students, parents and the community to come together. (Tecumseh) is very fortunate to have an extremely successful performing arts department,” she said. “It engages more students, and the more students are engaged, the better they are prepared.”

The final two interviews will begin at 7 p.m. today in the administrative services building, 212 N. Ottawa St. These candidates are Michael Osborne, superintendent of Hudson and Morenci schools, and Sharon Irvine, executive director of human resources and director of auxiliary services for Ypsilanti Community Schools.

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